Programs & Degrees

We see the teaching of English as more than just a school subject. Our vision of English education involves young people reading and writing not only to develop school or workplace skills, but also to understand and change their own lives and the world they (and we) live in.  In this vision, literacy is a powerful tool for learning and action, and the English classroom is a site of authentic encounters with important ideas-- both in the texts young people read and in the ones they create.

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Penn State offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and many options for teacher certification.

There is a growing demand for graduates of teacher education programs. This department offers professional programs leading to certification in early childhood (PK-4), middle-level education (grades 4-8), and in a variety of discipline areas leading to certification at the secondary-school level. Admission to a specific teacher certification program occurs only after a student applies to a particular program during or at the conclusion of the freshman year. This department also provides a variety of clinical field experiences, including student teaching.